Age-Friendly Maple Grove

The Fall Senior Activity Guide is ready for you to explore, and some program opportunities begin as early as next week. You can view it and register online here: https://www.maplegrovemn.gov/357/Senior-center
Paper copies of the guide are always available at the Maple Grove Community Center.
We hope you find something that interests you and you join us for some fun this fall!

Hey, remember winter? If you'll need help shoveling snow when the time comes, call Senior Community Services now to get on the list. Their HOME program offers snow removal, among many other services!

SCS also hires people to do the snow removal! This is a great part-time job for high-schoolers or others who would like to earn some money during the winter months.

Call 952-746-4046 or email [email protected] for more info about either opportunity!

Household & Outdoor Maintenance - Senior Community Services Household & Outdoor Maintenance (HOME) Program HOME Program services support independence and allow older adults to remain in the homes and communities they love. Services are available to anyone aged 60 and older residing in one of the cities listed below. Rates for paid services are based on a par...

What a creative, meaningful way to celebrate a milestone birthday!

I Wasn't Sure How To Celebrate Turning 70. Then I Sent An Email That Changed My Entire Year. "I pressed send, wondering if people would take my request seriously or regard it as yet another big idea."

Have you checked out the Maple Grove Farmers Market at its 2024 location while the Community Center is remodeled? Summer bounty is arriving!

Stop by on Thursdays, 3:00-7:00pm at the parking lot of the Church of the Open Door: 9060 Zanzibar Ln N, Maple Grove, MN 55311.

Reminder that Maple Grove Days is this week and begins Wednesday, July 10! Make sure to check out bit.ly/MapleGroveDaysEvents for all of the fun events to come!

Don’t miss the Fire Department Summer Safety Fair today, Thursday, June 27 from 5-7:30 p.m. at Fire Station 2, 13450 Maple Knoll Way. Discover ways to continue to keep yourself and our community safe while having fun with Maple Grove Fire-Rescue and Maple Grove Police Department!

We love that Maple Grove is a safe place to live, work, and play!

Don’t miss out on the Summer Safety Fair on Thursday, June 27, at Fire Station 2, 13450 Maple Knoll Way. Discover ways to continue to keep yourself and our community safe while having fun with Maple Grove Fire-Rescue and Maple Grove Police Department!

Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and NCOA and Zelle have created educational articles and videos covering topics such as online, business imposter, and text messaging scams.

Below are tips on how to recognize and avoid harmful schemes, as digital technology has impacted many parts of our lives. These tips can help protect you from scams on the internet.

Check out these links for more information regarding online scams:

- bit.ly/3yByrXL
- bit.ly/4byaXSb
- bit.ly/4ceK85t

For videos, check out this link - bit.ly/AvoidingScamsVideosNCOA

This week we dug into the Built Environment; next week it's time for Services & Security! All interested stakeholders and community members are welcome to join our discussion on Monday, June 17, 2024. Details below - hope to see you!

Music and the arts have the power to transcend our challenges!

Yuen: Why singing is good for Alzheimer's patients — and their caregivers, too Five Twin Cities choruses operated by Giving Voice, which started a decade ago in Minnesota for people with dementia and their caregivers, will perform at Orchestra Hall on June 9.

Interested in age-friendly housing, transportation, or public spaces in our community? Join Age-Friendly Maple Grove next week to determine which actions we'll take in the coming year in these areas! This discussion will build on work to date, though anyone is welcome to join!

Enter the 2024 Maple Grove Moments Photography Contest!

The 2024 Maple Grove Moments Photography Contest is now open for entries! We are so excited to see the city through your eyes.

Entries in the recreation, events, animals, nature and youth categories are accepted from Maple Grove residents for the entire month of June. Stay tuned for contest updates and more fun opportunities!

Contest details at bit.ly/mgphotocontest

As World Elder Abuse Awareness Day approaches on June 15, Early Warning Services LLC and the National Council on Aging have launched a campaign to educate older adults on how to avoid online scams.

We encourage you to explore their articles, tips, and videos to learn how to identify scams. Below, are some scam prevention tips.

For more information and to learn more on how to recognize and avoid scams, click this link: bit.ly/4bB8kyU.

We are working with the University of Minnesota's Occupational Therapy Department on a data project. We are looking to interview socially isolated older adults in our community to learn about barriers related to connecting with resources, services and activities.

Please complete the pre-screening survey to see if you are an eligible candidate. We appreciate your consideration in participating in this community project!

Link to the survey: bit.ly/screeningsurveyUofM

Area seniors are invited to attend Comfort Keepers of Maple Grove & Osseo National Day of Joy Senior Prom at the Maple Grove Community Center on Wednesday, June 26 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

We wish to provide a day to enjoy music and community with dancing and music, dressing up (if you so wish), dessert, and give-aways. The Comfort Keepers® National Day of Joy recognizes that we all need a day to celebrate joy and happiness and recognize all that our senior community contributes. We hope to see you there!

Minnesota has exciting new work underway for aging! Take a quick trip through the Blueprint!

The Age Friendly Minnesota Council is pleased to share this first-look at the Multisector Blueprint for Aging - learn more at https://www.agefriendlymn.org/blueprint

Community resource alert! Did know Maple Grove Library offers Drop-In Tech Help? Stop by for one-on-one assistance with computers, smartphones, tablets, and e-readers - from Google Docs to social media to printing! Next session is Friday, May 17, 1:30-3:30pm. They'd love to see you!

A worthwhile, eye-opening segment about the value of caregiving and what it means to families and our society.

📺 WATCH | Hosted by CBS News contributor Lisa Ling, the first installment of The Cost of Caregiving, "The mounting pressures on those caring for both parents and young children," introduces us to "sandwich caregiving."

The sandwich caregiving is a phenomenon shared in the experiences of roughly a quarter of all US adults supporting not only their aging parents but also their children. Watch to learn more: https://ow.ly/cGCn50RsEOs
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Tomorrow's a great opportunity to help ! Thanks to CROSS Services for all you do in Maple Grove and surrounding communities!

Tomorrow is the largest one-day food drive in the nation! On May 11th, letter carriers around the country will collect your bags of non-perishable food donations, which will be donated to local charities, including CROSS Services.

Donate by placing a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail. Together we can ! Learn more at https://crossservices.org/event/stamp-out-hunger/

May is ! The 2024 theme, , recognizes the profound impact of meaningful relationships and social connections on our health and well-being. Learn more at acl.gov/oam.

Don't forget to RSVP today (April 24) if you plan to attend our Age-Friendly Maple Grove workshop on Tuesday, April 30 from 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Maple Grove Community Center. We look forward to seeing you there!

We're ready to put the plan into action, and we want your help! AF MG invites the community to join a fun, interactive workshop to help set priorities for this year and learn about opportunities to help bring this plan to life. The workshop will include a mix of presentation, discussion, brainstorming, and networking - with breaks, refreshments and lunch throughout the day. Join us for some or all of this special event! Details below:

Age-friendly isn't just for communities!

"...3,700 sites across the US - including clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes - are now designated age-friendly."

This system is "'a counterbalance to ageism, because it requires that a clinician begins with asking and acting on what matters to the older adult, so right away the older adult is being seen and being heard.'"

Ageism in health care is more common than you might think, and it can harm people Assumptions that older people are one big, frail, homogenous group can lead to problems, says the author of Elderhood.

We're ready to put the plan into action, and we want your help! AF MG invites the community to join a fun, interactive workshop to help set priorities for this year and learn about opportunities to help bring this plan to life. The workshop will include a mix of presentation, discussion, brainstorming, and networking - with breaks, refreshments and lunch throughout the day. Join us for some or all of this special event! Details below:

Please join CROSS Services on Thursday, April 4th from 4-7pm for their annual Empty Bowls event! Indulge your senses in an evening filled with generosity, talented local artisans, and delectable local fare. Empty Bowls is not just an event; it's an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
100% of event proceeds benefit CROSS Services to support your neighbors in need!
Buy tickets in advance for a special price at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empty-bowls-tickets-818566503447?fbclid=IwAR3BGltAAvh18lWTYLf4WIsCUXOQ_FSS-8cUOk0bs8UBnTPn4opYc0mCzvk_aem_AZoAqP2DKy_sqhojP90Tx0aqb0j0_JVyOW9Wybb_aSgrdxIqRQCLRsz1r0Xzsxsvkjk8k1qtDcQWbdrJ6xjabnO8

We are excited to partner with so many wonderful restaurants at our Empty Bowls event this year including Rojo Mexican Grill - Maple Grove Paulie's The Lookout Bar and Grill 3 Squares Restaurant Nucky's Speakeasy Nautical Bowls Maple Grove Hy-Vee Daily Dose Cafe and Espresso Nothing Bundt Cakes Lynde's Restaurant Osseo, MN Starbucks Lunds & Byerlys Maple Grove Whole Foods Market and Club 300 !

Please join us Thursday, April 4th from 4-7pm and indulge your senses in an evening filled with generosity, talented local artisans, and delectable local fare. Empty Bowls is not just an event; it's an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

100% of event proceeds benefit CROSS Services to support your neighbors in need!

Buy tickets in advance for a special price at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empty-bowls-tickets-818566503447

Hmong people with dementia sing in harmony in new Twin Cities choir The Hmong Folk Choir is using singing to focus on better health outcomes for people with dementia.

Are you in need of a new tablet? You may be eligible for a free one through Senior Community Services! But you should act quickly, as these tablets from the Technology Partners grant from the State of MN ends on March 31.
If you know someone who could benefit from receiving a brand-new device, please reach out to Cynthia at 952-888-5530 or [email protected]
The income eligibility is $2500/month and lower for single, and $3600/married, and must be 60+ years old.

The Senior Summer Activity Guide is out now and ready for you to explore. It is full of exciting offerings like day trips, luncheons with entertainment, fitness classes, social & hobby clubs, and so much more. You can pick up a paper copy of the guide at the community center or view it online here: https://www.maplegrovemn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8002/Senior-summer-activity-guide-2024-PDF?bidId=
Registration opens in a week on Tuesday, March 19 at 9 a.m. either in-person at the community center or online at https://webtrac.maplegrovemn.gov

Check out these free spring classes at Maple Grove Library in collaboration with AARP MN! The first is this Saturday. For more information and to register, visit the library's Events page.

• Prepare to Care: Sat., March 9, 10-11am
• Downsizing and Decluttering: Sat., March 23 at 10am-11am
• HomeFit Workshop (modifications to make your home more accessible as you age): Sat., April 20, 10am-11am
• Six Pillars of Brain Health: Sun., May 19, 2pm-3pm

Events — Hennepin County Library Explore Hennepin County Library. New titles, recently rated, and recently tagged by the library community.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Senior Community Services has great volunteer programs that offer one-time or ongoing opportunities to help older residents with yardwork and related chores. Click below to learn more!

Join us to help older adults enhance the curb appeal of their homes this spring!

In preparation for spring service requests, we're recruiting and onboarding volunteers now. Spring (and summer) volunteers are needed to help with yard clean-up, garden prep, raking, and other outdoor projects in the coming months.

Visit seniorcommunity.org/volunteer to see how much our volunteers are valued by our participants, and to complete an application form. Individual and group opportunities are available throughout Hennepin County Government, Sherburne County MN Government, and Wright County MN.